20 High-Tech Everyday Carry Essentials

It’s time to face the facts: technology is here to stay and it is going to continue to be integrated into our daily lives at an exponential rate. And that has the potential to be a excellent realization, because – with acceptance – it can go a long way toward making life easier and adds a whole new level to the possibilities of things like everyday carry gear. So, whether you are an early adopter of all things tech, or you’re a long-standing hold-out, the time has come to start embracing some silicon-chipped, fiber-optic, re-programmable (etcetera, etcetera) gear options.

But there is still a lot of ground to carry in regards to wading through the mounds of trash that populate the market space. Because, let’s be honest, access to tech and a manufacturer does not necessarily a good product make. There are a lot of unworthy knock-offs because, ironically, technology has has made it so much easier for companies to pump out products. And that’s where we come in. We’ve gathered up a list of 20 technologically advanced everyday carry gear options that aren’t just worth a second glance – they’re deserving of being integrated into your life. Suit up, space cowboy.

Anker PowerCore Portable Charger

A little bit larger than a tube of chapstick, this USB charger has what many of its brethren lack: the ability to actually put it in your pocket. And it doesn’t lack in charge ability either, as it can add up to 14 hours of talk time to an iPhone 6 or almost a full charge to a Samsung Galaxy 6S or virtually any other Android or Windows phones. For the price, there’s none better.

Nomad Key

This handy little keychain device is perfect for anyone who finds themselves frequently near a charge port with a near-dead phone, but missing that oh-so-forgettable bit that connects the two: a cable. Coming with either a mini USB or Apple’s Lightning connector, this small device, which is extremely durable and flexible, will help keep your tech alive – so long as you can find a place in which to plug it.

Cocoon Grid-It Organizer

Like tactical military webbing for everyday situations, this rubberized woven elastic pad allows you to store all of your cables, devices, accessories, and whatever else you can fit in an organized fashion. No longer will you need to fish through a messy pack in order to find your portable hard drive. Just strap all your stuff onto the Grid-It, put it in your pack, and go.

Kingston Digital 64 GB Flash Drive

There was a time when, if you wanted more digital storage space than a gig or two, you had to lug around an unwieldy technological brick. That time has come and gone. Now, you can keep hundreds of gigabytes in the palm of your hand. But, honestly, most people don’t need that much space. This keychain USB 3.0 flash drive will serve most people’s needs in their entirety. And it has excellent data transfer speeds.

SanDisk Wireless 32 GB Flash Drive

If you frequently find yourself without any free space on your phone, you know how much of a pain it is to sync your data and clear up some space, especially if you are nowhere near your home computer (e.g. it’s nigh impossible). This flash drive, while it can be plugged into a USB slot, can also transfer data wirelessly from any compatible device – so you won’t have to delete all those pictures you took of your pets the next time you want to download an app.

Paracables

Most cables, though they often your technological lifeline, are pretty fragile things. Their rubber outers crack and break and the internal wires can become exposed and, inevitably, they’ll cease to function. Do yourself a favor and pick up something a little more substantial. These cables, which come in either Apple Lightning or Mini USB, are wrapped in your pattern choice of paracord, making them extra durable and sure to last through loads of punishment.

Tile Item Finder

If you are someone who frequently uses your keys, this little keychain mountable device – which connects to a phone app – can help you find them easily. But, if you are more of a lose your phone kind of person, the tile features a button that, when pressed, can make your phone ring – even if it is on silent – so you can track it down. Really, anything you don’t want to lose but have a habit of misplacing can be found much more easily with the addition of the Tile.

This Is Ground Cord Taco

There are few things as obnoxious as stray cords and wires. If you tend to agree with that statement, these Tacos – which come in a 5-pack – can go a long way toward circumventing the problem. Made from 100% leather in Los Angeles, California, these devices can keep your cables together, untangled, and out of the way whether you are on a long trip, a business traveler, or you just want to clean up the mess behind your desk.

Nomad Carabiner Clip

Like their Key, this device from Nomad allows you to plug in your Apple-, Android-, or Windows-based phone anywhere you can find a USB port in which to attach it. And – discreetly hiding the connector cables into its durable construction – it doubles as a keychain carabiner, so you can keep your keys at your hip instead of in a pile at the bottom of your pocket. Just don’t try to use it for climbing.

Machine Era Ti5 Wallet

Not strictly technological itself, this metal wallet offers you the ability to protect yourself from the tech of others – namely, anyone looking to remotely steal your credit card information. It is a fully RFID blocking slim wallet made from supremely durable and corrosion resistant titanium. And, this USA made cash and card carrier, features a seven card capacity and an elastic band in which you can keep any paper money you want to carry around with you.

MecArmy Illuminex-1

Rechargeable flashlights are a dime a dozen nowadays. However, it is very infrequent to find one that is rechargeable by Mini USB, like this one from MecArmy. With a maximum lumen output of 130, a charge time of just one hour, and a 6-hour maximum run-time, this tiny keychain flashlight is perfect for everyday carry and doesn’t require a clunky battery charger in order to get it working.

Cargo Works Macbook EDC Kit

If your EDC gear includes some larger-scale tech, like a laptop and its accessories, you might want to look into getting yourself an efficient and stylish means to carry it all. And you can’t go wrong with this bag from Cargo Works. Between the compartmental internal organization, external MOLLE webbing, and durable polyester canvas construction (along with a padded computer pouch), this bag will keep your tech both organized and safe.

Aer Fit Pack

This 1680 Denier ballistic nylon constructed backpack features a spacious main pocket with a compartmentalized system thats perfect for all your tech – from your 15″ Macbook Pro, to your external hard drive, to your mini tablet – and will keep it safe and sound. The polyester lining is durable and moisture resistant and – if you tend to hit the gym on the go – there’s a separate ventilated compartment for your shoes and/or clothing that wont intrude upon your other gear.

Jaybird X2 Wireless Earbuds

Eliminate the need to tether your ears to your devices with these wireless earbuds from Jaybird. Compatible with anything Bluetooth enabled – your phone, your iPad, your computer, whatever – you can stream music (or books on tape, if you’re into that) directly into your ears without having to lug that device around with you. And, in one charge, they’ll last for up to 8 hours straight.

Neo Smartpen N2

This pen, which uses a pressure sensor to turn on whenever it is in use, can store up to 1,000 pages of notes remotely – until they can be uploaded to Evernote or Google Drive. The sleek aluminum body is as comfortable as a normal pen and offers up a great amount of strength and durability, so you won’t break it through normal use. And you can upload your words and pictures directly to third-party programs like the Adobe suite.

Garmin Vívosmart Fitness Tracker

For many people, staying active has become an integral part of everyday life. One of the best ways to keep track of your personal fitness journey is by getting a device that will do it for you. Garmin’s fitness tracker features GPS integration and will keep track of your running metrics (like distance, time, personal records, etc.) automatically. And it features 24/7 heart rate monitoring, so you can even see your sleep patterns. It’s even water rated at 5 ATM, so you don’t have to fear getting it wet.

Apple Watch Series 2

Another entry in Apple’s long line of impressive technological accessories, their Series 2 Watch vastly improves upon the original. First and foremost, you are no longer required to be tethered to your phone physically in order to use it. It’s also water resistant up to 50 meters, is much more customizable through Apple, and comes with on-board fitness tracking and a coaching app – which can be paired, along with your music, to Apple’s new Air Pod earbuds.

Apple iPhone 7

Between the onboard 7 megapixel camera, increased battery life, onboard stereo speakers, an improved display, and Apple’s new A10 Fusion chip – which supports up to 25 LTE bands for better worldwide roaming – there’s not a whole lot of arguments against picking up this newest iteration of iPhone. They are even dust and water resistant. And with either a 32, 128, or 256 gigabyte hard drive capacity, you can get one that will suit your needs.

Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100 Digital Camera

An excellent small-scale point-and-shoot camera, this Sony Cybershot can snap hundreds of still photos, record high resolution 4k video, and offers slow motion up to 960 frames per second. And you can check all of your videos and pictures on the onboard 3″ multi-angle LCD view screen. It can also connect directly to your mobile devices via wifi, if you want to immediately transfer your shots.

Apple Macbook Pro

Undeniably the leader in most mobile tech, Apple’s Macbook Pro is the cream of the crop when it comes to laptops. Both models – the 15″ and the 13″ – offer over 4 million pixels in their displays, an exceedingly responsive trackpad (if you don’t have access to a mouse), 10 or 9 hours of battery life (respectively), and an incredibly slim profile. And that’s not even delving into the tech beneath the keyboard which is, needless to say, tremendously impressive. This is what makes Apple such an across the board staple for technophiles everywhere.